LAC. Wallace Jackson in North Africa and Italy with 70 Squadron, RAF, 1941-1944
 

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Sgt Jack R. Wolff

contributed by Ian Wolff (son)

My father Jack Wolff served with 70 Squadron in the Middle East from July 1942 through to November 1942 as a front gunner. 

My father passed away in 2001 and apart from the odd comment never spoke of his time with 70 Squadron. 

After returning to the UK he was with AAS at Manby, 10 OTU at Abingdon and CGS Catfoss before joining 223 Squadron having qualified as a Gunnery Leader for a further tour of operations.

I have not requested his service records yet, but from his log book I have identified his progression through the RAF, or should I say RAFVR, prior to joining 70 Squadron:

No 1 AONS (Air Observer Navigation School) RAF Prestwick October 1940 to January 1941
No 2 Signals School RAF Yatesbury, October 1941 to February 1942
No 8 AGS (Air Gunnery School), RAF Evanton, March 1942 to April 1942
21 OTU (Operational Training Unit), RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, April 1942 to June 1942

The last entry for 21 OTU was for taking part in active operations as part of the third 1000 bomber raid over Germany that went to Bremen on the night of 25 June 1942.

summary of log book entries

Theory of Flight Course, Prestwick, 1941

Jack Wolff - front row, centre

Theory of Flight Course, Prestwick, 1941

Penultimate course, Evanton, April 1942

Jack Wolff - top row, 2nd left

 

 log book 23.7.42 - 31.7.42

 

log book 4.8.42 - 24.8.42

log book 27.8.42 - 31.8.42

 

log book 2.9.42 - 26.9.42

log book 7.10.42 - 31.10.42

 

log book 2.11.42 - 13.11.42

 
         
Date Off Back Aircraft Number Pilot Duty Remarks Day Night
23-Jul-1942 10:53 12:33 Wellington HX488 Sgt Wilch 2nd W/OP Moreton-in-Marsh to Port Reath 01:40
25-Jul-1942 06:37 14:45 Wellington HX488 Sgt Wilch 2nd W/OP Port Reath to Gibraltar 08:08
26-Jul-1942 17:20 00:33 Wellington HX488 Sgt Wilch 2nd W/OP Gibraltar to Malta 03:13 04:00
27-Jul-1942 20:10 04:30 Wellington HX488 Sgt Wilch 2nd W/OP Malta to Middle East. LG. 224 08:20
31-Jul-1942 22:10 05:00 Wellington K: Sgt Holland Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 06:50
4-Aug-1942 23:55 06:30 Wellington K:DV624 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 06:35
6-Aug-1942 23:05 06:25 Wellington Q: P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 07:20
8-Aug-1942 22:45 06:30 Wellington Z:ES983 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 07:45
10-Aug-1942 19:55 04:10 Wellington Z:ES983 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 08:15
12-Aug-1942 16:40 05:10 Wellington Z:ES983 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Rhodes (VIA LG 86) 01:40 07:15
14-Aug-1942 19:55 03:50 Wellington Z:ES983 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 07:55
16-Aug-1942 20:00 03:35 Wellington S:HX426 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 07:35
19-Aug-1942 19:15 02:50 Wellington Z:ES983 P/O Pilcher Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 07:35
22-Aug-1942 21:35 01:35 Wellington Z:ES983 P/O Cox Front Gunner Operations - El Daba - Tank Concentrations 04:00
24-Aug-1942 21:05 00:55 Wellington Q P/O Cox Front Gunner Operations - El Daba - Tank Concentrations 03:50
27-Aug-1942 22:25 02:15 Wellington K:DV624 P/O Cox Front Gunner Operations - El Daba - Tank Concentrations 03:50
29-Aug-1942 21:25 05:10 Wellington W:BB477 Sgt Goody Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 07:45
31-Aug-1942 23:10 04:05 Wellington P:ES993 Sgt Goody Front Gunner Operations to enemy airfields. (Fuka) 04:55
2-Sep-1942 23:30 03:30 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Goody Front Gunner Operations - El Daba - Tank Concentrations 04:00
5-Sep-1942 19:35 03:40 Wellington P:ES993 Sgt Goody Front Gunner Operations to Tobruk 08:05
8-Sep-1942 20:50 04:45 Wellington P:ES993 Sgt Goody Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk Crash landed 40m. South of Sollum. Picked up by L.R.D.P. 17:9:42 07:55
22-Sep-1942 22:15 03:30 Wellington P:ES993 P/O Gray Front Gunner Operations - Fuka 05:15
26-Sep-1942 19:55 04:10 Wellington P:ES993 P/O Gray Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk 08:15
7-Oct-1942 22:50 11:45 Wellington P:ES993 F/Lt Turner Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk Force landed LG237. Lack of fuel 00:55 08:05
11-Oct-1942 18:40 Wellington P:ES993 Sgt Jackson Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk 08:20
15-Oct-1942 23:00 Wellington P:ES993 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk 07:45
19-Oct-1942 20:45 Wellington W:HO974 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk 07:40
21-Oct-1942 20:45 Wellington :BV639 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Enemy landing grounds. Fuka area 04:30
23-Oct-1942 22:50 Wellington W:HO974 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Battle area. Start of offensive by our land forces 04:55
24-Oct-1942 02:55 Wellington W:HO974 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Battle area. 03:30
25-Oct-1942 02:55 Wellington B:BB480 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Battle area. 03:00
28-Oct-1942 22:35 Wellington R:DV567 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Battle area. 04:20
31-Oct-1942 22:41 Wellington Y: F/Sgt Carter Front Gunner Operations - Battle area. 05:00
2-Nov-1942 16:00 16:45 Wellington U:Z8765 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Air test 00:45
2-Nov-1942 20:55 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Battle area. Landed LG224. Ground defences accurate. Compelled to jettison bombs 04:45
2-Nov-1942 20:50 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Battle area. Landed base. 03:10
3-Nov-1942 20:10 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Battle area. Retreating transport:Fuka-Daba road 04:20
5-Nov-1942 21:45 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Battle area. Fuka area 05:00
6-Nov-1942 14:30 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Moving to L.G.224 01:00
6-Nov-1942 22:50 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Battle area - Sidi Barrani 05:50
8-Nov-1942 19:25 Wellington Y:Z9019 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Battle area. Halfaia Pass. Strafed beach East of Sollum. Drew enemy fire. 05:30
10-Nov-1942 20:35 Wellington HD974 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Tobruk Captured by Allies 13:11:42 German army evacuating 06:30
12-Nov-1942 19:40 Wellington Z:8762 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Derna _ Returned engine trouble D.N.C.O. 01:40
13-Nov-1942 09:45 Wellington R:DV569 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner LG.224 TO LG.106 01:35
13-Nov-1942 18:05 Wellington K:DV624 Sgt Wilch Front Gunner Operations - Benghazi 07:40
15-Dec-1942 11:55 18:10 Halifax V-L9613 W/Cdr Scott Passenger cum A/G Heliopolis - LG224 - Malta 06:15
20-Dec-1942 03:30 Halifax V-L9613 F/O Turner Passenger Malta -  Gibraltar Fuel shortage. Force Landed 5m North Sidi Bel Abbes 06:30
25-Dec-1942 06:30 08:30 DC3 J-14 M. Danielle Passenger Oran - Gibraltar 02:00
   

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